Shh..

It dawned on me recently that the things that matter most are the things we cannot buy. I've known this all along, of course, but I guess I'm simply starting to realize the stark reality of it all. Life's precious, my kids aren't getting any younger and my wife deserves my undivided attention when we're on vacation. And the rest of the year, too.

So you may have noticed that I'm not posting every day. Or every second day. Or third, come to think of it. I'm not wearing a watch and I'm paying zero attention to my calendar. The BlackBerry sits silently and ignored somewhere deep in my camera bag. I use my laptop, but only to offload pictures from my camera - it helps me relive each day before we fall asleep. You don't want to see pictures of me, as I've lost track of where my razor is. I have no idea where my shirts, ties and suits have gone. And I don't much care.

Caption This, usually published on Sunday, is late this week. I'll get to it when the spirit moves me, I guess. Thematic Photographic? Same thing.

Don't worry, though. I'm not disappearing. I'll return to full-bore blogging in a few days, after we return to our regular life's routine. But for now, I've hit the pause button, and it feels cathartic. I needed this more than I was willing to admit. My family did, too, and I hope you and yours are able to do the same.

Your turn: How do you turn the volume down in your own life? What do you learn in the process?

Related link: Updated pics...